Dave's Garden - Gardening Community
Sponsored Links: Winter Landscaping - Gardeners Supply - Mail Order Plants - Flowering Bulbs - Landscape Design - Plant Nurseries Mail Order

Beginner Vegetables: okra plants getting sheared off

Ace - The helpful place

Click Here

  Welcome!  
You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!

Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.

  Login  
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.

Username:

Password:

Forum: Beginner VegetablesReplies: 3, Views: 42
Print -
AuthorContent
tsmass
Hopkinton, MA

June 29, 2009
07:44 PM

Post #6755777

The okra plants in my garden are getting sheared off one at a time, usually at night. The plants are currently 3 inches high or so (not a lot of sunshine so far in Boston this year), and often the plants will be cut an inch or two up the stem, as if with scissors. The leaves are lying uneaten on the ground next to the cut stem.

I've been losing 1 or 2 plants a week, but can't figure out what would cut the stem, but not eat the leaves. Any ideas?

Thanks.
Jim41
Delhi, LA

July 01, 2009
12:59 PM

Post #6763702

Never lost okra like that but have lost tomatos. Sounds like a cutworm to me. Next time one is cut off dig down around the stem and see if you can't fine the critter. You might try putting aluminum foil around the botto inch of the plants to stop further loss. Didn't know you folks in Boston area liked okra. Sound like a southern transplant.
stephanietx
Fort Worth, TX
(Zone 8a)

July 01, 2009
05:19 PM

Post #6764724

Could be cutworms. Have you seen any small black worms just under the surface of your plants?
tsmass
Hopkinton, MA

July 10, 2009
07:35 PM

Post #6803963

Sorry so long to reply, but have been out of town. Haven't seen any worms around the plants, but I suspect some sort of larger animal. I put up some chicken wire around the garden, and haven't had a problem since.

Thanks for the suggestions!

You cannot post until you register, login and subscribe.

Other Beginner Vegetables Threads you might be interested in:

SubjectThread StarterRepliesLast Post
FOR US NEWBIES, Thank You CRITTER MistyPetals 3 Jan 22, 2009 5:00 PM
THANK YOU EXPERIENCED GARDENERS MistyPetals 32 Jul 8, 2009 12:27 AM
I need a little encouragement! lisaoliver 49 May 11, 2009 4:22 PM
Bugs in my zucchini sherlyn 8 Jul 26, 2009 8:50 PM
Terracycle fertilizer for seedlings? jojoringer 3 Jan 14, 2009 4:25 PM


We recommend Firefox
Overwhelmed? There's a lot to see here. Try starting at our homepage.

[ Home | About | Advertise | Mission | Acceptable Use Policy | Tour | Privacy Policy | Contact Us ]

Back to the top

Copyright © 2000-2009 Dave's Garden. All Rights Reserved.
 

NameMedia Home and Gardens
Share on FacebookShare on Stumbleupon

Hope for America